Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
It should have felt uncomfortable, the closeness with these men, but it didn’t. It felt natural as breathing the cool morning air.
So, when Connor came through the front door around 9:00 a.m., throwing off his sunglasses with an overly loud, “Good morning!” I didn’t need to wonder where he was all night. The hickey under his left ear told me exactly where he’d been.
Lee muttered a husky, “Shut the fuck up.”
And Connor glared. “What’s up your ass?”
Carefully, I continued to braid Hell’s hair. “He’s sick.”
Lee frowned and his voice strained. “I’m not sick.”
“He’s sick,” confirmed Noah, readjusting himself on my leg.
“And he’s in a mood too,” Hell muttered sleepily, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of having his hair played with. Lee flipped Hell the bird, and even though I was sure Hell couldn’t see it, he laughed. “Piss off.”
Lee opened his mouth to argue but all that came out was a throaty cough. And, finishing up Hell’s hair, I sighed. “I’m calling a doctor.”
“I don’t need a doctor,” Lee rattled out through a cough.
Connor was already undressing, pulling off his socks then dropping his drawers. “Jesus. You sound like shit.”
Noah looked up at me and we exchanged a look. He nodded and gently patting Hell’s shoulders, I stood and went into Noah’s room to make the call. When I returned, I announced, “The doctor will be here in an hour.”
Lee glared at me and his response was throaty. “Fuck.”
Lee did not like doctors. I knew this so I would stay with him during his visit but his acting like a big baby wouldn’t fly. I turned to him slowly. “What did you just say?”
He continued to glare but said nothing.
And I raised a brow. “No? Nothing?” He remained silent and I muttered, “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
For some unknown reason, everyone seemed to be on edge this morning and when I lifted my hand to my mouth, biting my nails, Noah looked up at me. “Stop.”
But I didn’t listen to him. They were my damn nails and I’d do whatever the heck I liked with them. I chewed on the skin at the side of my thumb and he sighed, reaching up to grasp my hand. When I scowled down at him, his eyes softened. “Stop it.”
I felt like a jerk. With a deep exhale, I moved to stand, talking as I went. “Lee, you’re staying home with me. While the guys are out doing promo, you’re going to rest.” And when I saw him open his mouth to argue, I closed my eyes and lifted my head in silent prayer. “And I swear to God if you have something to say about that, I’m going to scream.” My voice came out tired as I ran a hand down my face, suddenly weary. “So, please… don’t.”
Connor coming out of the bathroom and squeezing the side of my boob while making a beep sound was the last straw.
I started to hyperventilate before walking away, towards the entrance of the suite.
“Where are you going?” called Hell.
But I didn’t respond. I just kept walking.
The door to the suite opened and I heard, “Emmy?” Noah sounded apprehensive.
I could barely keep my eyes open. Blinking slowly, I spun to him and whispered, “Sorry.”
His brows knitted. “Are you feeling okay?” He stepped forward, putting a hand to my head. “You look a little flushed.”
I decided to be honest. “I don’t like confrontation.” I was so tired that I began to ramble. “Once, a girl at school yelled at me and I puked on her shoes.” I closed my eyes, leaning against the wall and hugging myself. “She made me pay for them.” I yawned delicately, covering my mouth. “And I did.”
“What?” He sounded so confused.
My head was swimming and my voice turned quiet. What were we talking about? I tried to keep my eyes open but it was proving difficult. “I don’t know.”
Noah sighed. “Okay.” He led me back to the suite. “C’mon. You need some sleep.”
I don’t know much about what happened after that but when a knock at the door sounded, Lee and I were sleeping on the sofa, top to toe, and somebody had covered us with a blanket. While Lee remained asleep, I stood, stretched, then went to the door.
A young woman stood there. “House call?”
Hmm. She looked too young to be a doctor. Perhaps it was the smatter of freckles across her nose that made her look so childlike.
I cleared my throat. “Yes. Please.” I held open the door, blinking away sleep. “He’s on the sofa.” I followed her in. “Thank you for coming.”
Before she sat on the coffee table, directly across from Lee, she smiled at me. “Don’t mention it.” Then she jerked her chin to the sleeping man. “I’m a fan.”
Somehow, that made me anxious. She must’ve seen this because she laughed good-naturedly. “Oh, geez. Don’t look at me like that. I swear I’m an actual doctor.” At my sheepish look, she smiled. “What’s your name?”